How to relieve headache caused by hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus causing headaches is generally related to high pressure in the brain. Hydrocephalus leads to an enlargement of the ventricular system, compressing the surrounding brain tissue. Since the volume of the skull is fixed, increased accumulation of fluid can cause a rapid rise in internal pressure, leading to headaches. In severe cases, it may cause nausea, vomiting, and disturbances in consciousness, making the patient drowsy, stuporous, or even comatose. In such cases, the main treatment is to reduce the pressure inside the brain. Dehydrating agents, such as mannitol, can be used; however, mannitol mainly removes water from inside the cells and is more effective for cerebral edema than for hydrocephalus. Furosemide can be used to reduce the secretion of cerebrospinal fluid and may have some effect on hydrocephalus. However, the key treatment is likely to be surgical, such as lateral ventricular drainage, which can fundamentally resolve the problem of fluid accumulation but can also lead to complications like infections.